Surgical drill guide system with articulating guide adaptor

ABSTRACT

A drill guide system provides a means of improved tunnel placement accuracy by allowing the drill guide to articulate to seat against the bone being drilled. The drill guide includes an articulating drill guide adapter constructed in four parts: a top cap, a thumbscrew, a lock tab, and a spring mechanism. The drill guide adapter is part of an aimer arm which mates with a handle on the proximal end and an aimer guide on the distal end. The drill guide adaptor allows the aimer guide to articulate relative to an irregular mating surface, allowing for increased area contact between the aimer guide template and bone. Examples of the drill guide adaptor also include a means for locking the aimer guide into place relative to the aimer arm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No.15/828,649, filed Dec. 1, 2017, entitled SURGICAL DRILL GUIDE SYSTEMWITH ARTICULATING GUIDE ADAPTOR, which in turn claims priority to andbenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/428,584, filed Dec. 1,2016, and to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/437,272, filed Dec. 21,2016, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein intheir entirety for all purposes.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to surgical drill guides. Morespecifically, the present disclosure relates to surgical drill guidesfor the positioning and orienting of holes to be drilled in a femurduring ACL reconstruction.

BACKGROUND

Reconstructive surgery often involves drilling into bone to attach softtissue such as ligament and tendon grafts, as well as various artificialreplacements and/or attachments, for articulated joints. In particular,reconstructive surgery involving the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ofthe knee is becoming particularly significant because the effectivenessof reconstruction can have a profound effect on the subsequent mobilityof the patient. Similarly, an improperly treated ACL injury can be apermanent detriment.

A damaged ACL is often replaced with a graft from a patellar tendon or asemitendinosus tendon. Such a repair is facilitated by tunnels formed inthe tibia and/or femur for use in implanting the graft in the patient'sknee. The graft may then be secured in the tunnels by fixation means,such as interference screws or sutures tied to screw posts. The femur,in particular, because it often bears the entire weight of the patient,and being the largest human bone, may be relied upon to accommodate asubstantial connective force from a surgically added structure.Attachment of grafts, therefore, is often performed at a structurallysound location on the femur.

Typically, when performing an outside-in drilling procedure, a drillguide adapted for insertion into the knee joint locates a drilling exitpoint on the femur, while a surgeon manipulates the handle of the drillguide to locate an entry location. However, conventional drill guidesfor directing placement of the drilled hole are universal, using asingle design having a fixed relationship between an aimer arm and ahandle to identify a point of drilling. Conventional approaches,therefore, do not distinguish a left from right knee, nor individualdifferences in the bone configuration of an individual patient, whichcompromises the ability to locate an optimal entry point for drilling.Surgeons may attempt a similar range of application by employing fixedleft and right guides, or a series of fixed angle guides for both rightand left application. However, this results in a trial and erroradministration as well as requiring the manufacturing of a range ofmultiple fixed angle guides.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a surgical drill guide system that provides a meansof improved tunnel placement accuracy by allowing the drill guide toarticulate to seat against the bone being drilled. The drill guideincludes an articulating guide adapter constructed in four parts: a topcap, a thumbscrew, a lock tab, and a spring mechanism. The guide adapteris part of an aimer arm which mates with a handle on the proximal endand an aimer guide on the distal end. The guide adaptor allows the aimerguide to articulate relative to an irregular mating surface, allowingfor increased area contact between the aimer guide template and bone.Examples of the guide adaptor also include a means for locking the aimerguide into place relative to the aimer arm. The guide adaptor of thisdisclosure could also be adapted for use with non-circular, or modular,drill guides.

Advantageously, the drill guide system of this disclosure substantiallyovercomes the above-described shortcomings by employing the guideadaptor to pivot the aimer guide for positioning a femoral or tibialtunnel. Locating the drilling hole for placement of the tunnel optimallypenetrates a minimal depth of soft tissue (skin, muscle, etc.) yetdirects drilling into a sufficiently rigid and structurally sound areaof the femur. The guide adaptor allows placement of the aimer guidetemplate at a desired drilling exit location on the femur. Moreover, thehandle includes a sleeve member indicative of the drilling location, anda surgeon may manipulate the handle by pivoting the handle around theguide adaptor to place the sleeve at an optimal drilling location whilemaintaining the same exit location defined by the aimer guide template.In this manner, an optimal drilling location is selectable bypositioning the handle to an area of minimal soft tissue depth and inline with a structurally sound path through the femur.

Further examples of the surgical drill guide system of this disclosuremay include one or more of the following, in any suitable combination.

In examples, the surgical drill guide system of this disclosure includesa handle having an aperture extending through a proximal portion thereoffor maintaining slideable communication with a sleeve member along aninsertion axis. The sleeve member is elongated and has a tip. The systemalso includes an arm slidably engaging a slot in a distal portion of thehousing for arcuate movement thereto. The arm has a proximal endengaging the slot and a distal end including an open bore. The systemalso includes a rotating member having a threaded shaft extendingthrough a hole in a locking member and at least partially through thebore of the arm, and a biasing member disposed between the lockingmember and the bore of the arm. The biasing member is configured to biasthe locking member and the rotating member away from the bore in thearm. The system yet further includes a guide removably coupled to theshaft of the rotating member and extending from the rotating membertowards the insertion axis, and a template formed integrally with adistal end of the guide. The template has an aperture defining adrilling footprint corresponding to a bone tunnel through which asurgical attachment is passed. The locking member further includes alocking mechanism for locking the guide at a degree of rotation about ahinge axis defined by the shaft of the rotating member.

In further examples of the surgical drill guide system of thisdisclosure, a surface of the sleeve member has teeth for selectiveratcheting engagement with an interior portion of the handle when thesleeve member rotated. The tip of the sleeve member includes an engagingedge for fixing the sleeve against bone. The sleeve is configured forpassage of a guide wire. A surface of the arm has at least one markingfor measuring arcuate extension of the arm relative to the handle. Thebore of the arm defines a shelf for housing the biasing member. Inexamples, the rotating member is a thumbwheel. In other examples, thebiasing member is a spring disposed around the shaft of the rotatingmember. In further examples, a cap member is fixedly attached to thearm, and the biasing member biases the locking member and the rotatingmember towards the cap member. The guide includes an internally threadedportion for coupling to the shaft of the rotating member.

In yet further examples, the locking mechanism includes a pin on thelocking member for selective engagement with a plurality of depressionsformed in the arm. In other examples, the locking mechanism includes aplurality of spines on the locking member for selective engagement witha plurality of splines formed in the arm. A surface of the arm housingthe bore includes a recess for limiting a range of articulation of theguide, the range of articulation being about 25 degrees. The lockingmember includes a tail feature for engagement with a pocket formed inthe shelf for limiting a range of articulation of the guide, the rangeof articulation being about 25 degrees.

Examples of a method for surgical drilling of this disclosureinclude: 1) deploying an arm of a handle of a drill guide to apre-selected location, the arm engaging with a slot in a distal portionof the handle for arcuate movement therein; 2) pivoting a rotatingmember securing an aimer guide to a distal end of the arm about a hingeaxis defined by a shaft of the rotating member, the shaft extendingthrough an opening in a locking member, the aimer guide having atemplate formed integrally with a distal end of the aimer guide from therotating member; 3) disposing the template at a placement point along aninsertion axis defined by a sleeve member, the sleeve member slidablyextending through a proximal portion of the handle and configured forpassage of a guide wire, the hinge axis and the insertion axisintersecting for defining the placement point representative of adrilling site along the insertion axis; 4) advancing a tip of the sleevemember to the drilling site; and 5) passing the guide wire through thesleeve member to indicate a path for a surgical drill. The methodfurther includes releasing a locking mechanism, the locking mechanismlocking the aimer guide at a selected angular position relative to thearm. In examples, the locking mechanism has a pin on the locking memberfor selective engagement with a plurality of depressions formed in thearm. In other examples, the locking mechanism has a plurality of spineson the locking member for selective engagement with a plurality ofsplines formed in the arm.

Examples of a device for use with a surgical drill guide of thisdisclosure include a cap member fixedly attached to an arm of a drillguide. The device also includes a rotating member having a threadedshaft extending through a hole in a locking member and at leastpartially through a bore in the arm. A biasing member is disposedbetween the locking member and the bore, the biasing member configuredto bias the locking member and the rotating member towards the capmember. The device also includes a guide removably coupled to the shaftof the rotating member. The rotating member rotates the guide relativeto the arm about a hinge axis defined by the shaft of the rotatingmember. In further examples of the device, the locking member comprisesa locking mechanism for locking the guide at a degree of rotation aboutthe hinge axis. In examples, the locking mechanism includes a pin on thelocking member for selective engagement with a plurality of depressionsformed in the arm. In other examples, the locking mechanism includes aplurality of spines on the locking member for selective engagement witha plurality of splines formed in the arm.

These and other features and advantages will be apparent from a readingof the following detailed description and a review of the associateddrawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing generaldescription and the following detailed description are explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of aspects as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be more fully understood by reference to thedetailed description, in conjunction with the following figures,wherein:

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of an exemplary surgical drill guidesystem as disclosed herein;

FIG. 1B shows a detailed view of the intersection between the sleeve andthe aimer guide of the surgical drill guide system of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the guide adaptor of the surgical drillguide system of FIG. 1A;

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate an exemplary locking mechanism of the guideadaptor of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative locking mechanism of the guide adaptorof FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an exemplary articulation limiter of theguide adaptor of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary method for surgical drilling employingthe surgical drill guide system of FIG. 1A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the description that follows, like components have been given thesame reference numerals, regardless of whether they are shown indifferent examples. To illustrate example(s) in a clear and concisemanner, the drawings may not necessarily be to scale and certainfeatures may be shown in somewhat schematic form. Features that aredescribed and/or illustrated with respect to one example may be used inthe same way or in a similar way in one or more other examples and/or incombination with or instead of the features of the other examples.

As used in the specification and claims, for the purposes of describingand defining the invention, the terms “about” and “substantially” areused represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributedto any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or otherrepresentation. The terms “about” and “substantially” are also usedherein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representationmay vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in thebasic function of the subject matter at issue. “Comprise,” “include,”and/or plural forms of each are open ended and include the listed partsand can include additional parts that are not listed. “And/or” isopen-ended and includes one or more of the listed parts and combinationsof the listed parts.

Discussed below is an example configuration and deployment of thesurgical drill guide system of this disclosure. In an examplearrangement, an ACL repair employing the surgical drill guide system forfemoral drilling is shown. Alternate configurations may employ placementon other skeletal structures, or on softer tissue surfaces, and may ormay not employ a drilling approach for excavating the insertion tunnelfor a guidewire.

Turning now to FIG. 1A, a perspective view of an exemplary surgicaldrill guide system 100 of this disclosure is shown. In FIG. 1A, thesurgical drill guide system 100 includes a handle 102 having anarc-shaped slot 104. The handle 102 is shaped for a secure grasp by asurgeon or other operator. An aimer arm 110 is configured to slideablyengage with the slot 104 in the handle 102 for arcuate movement relativeto the handle 102. A surface of the aimer arm 110 includes tick markings111 for measuring the arcuate extension of the aimer arm 110. The aimerarm 110 terminates in a guide adaptor 106, described in more detailbelow. The guide adaptor 106 is configured to secure an aimer guide 130to the aimer arm 110. The guide adaptor 106 also adapts the aimer guide130 for rotation about a hinge axis 140, within a range of approximately25 degrees. The aimer guide 130 has an internally-threaded side portion148 for engagement with the guide adaptor 106, as further describedbelow. The aimer guide 130 also includes a template 134 formed at thedistal end of aimer guide 130 from the guide adaptor 106. The template134 includes an aperture 152 defining a drilling footprint at a surgicalsite. The aimer guide 130 is removeably interchangeable with other aimerguides 130 having different sized apertures 152, thus the aimer guide130 has a range of configurations for selecting aperture sizes.

Still referring to FIG. 1A, the surgical drill guide system 100 alsoincludes a sleeve 112 disposed through an aperture 114 in the handle 102and configured for passage of a guide wire 118. The sleeve 112 isadapted for slideable movement within the aperture 114 along aninsertion axis 142. A surface of the sleeve 112 includes slanting teeth146 for selective ratcheting engagement with a pawl (not shown) disposedwithin the handle 102 when the sleeve 112 is rotated via an insertionknob 116 such that the teeth 146 engage the pawl. The sleeve 112 isextendable along the insertion axis 142 through a range from theaperture 114 in the handle 102 to the template 134 to define a drillingand/or insertion hole for the guide wire 118. A taper, serration, orother suitable engaging edge on the tip 108 of the sleeve 112facilitates the fixing of the sleeve 112 against bone or another hardsurface. Typically, a soft tissue incision is made where the tip 108contacts soft tissue, and the sleeve 112 inserted until hard material(i.e. bone) is encountered. The tip 108 engages the bone facilitated bythe ratcheting action of the teeth 146 to avoid slippage duringinsertion of the guide wire 118.

It should be noted that, when the aimer guide 130 is centered on theguide adaptor 106, as shown in FIG. 1A, the insertion axis 142 isaligned with the center of the aperture 152 of the template 134.However, when the aimer guide 130 is rotated about the hinge axis 140 toits extreme angular limits, the insertion axis 142 is slightly offsetfrom the center of the aperture 152. As shown in more detail in FIG. 2,the hinge axis 140 does not pass through the center of the aperture 152.Thus, the target shape that the guide wire 118 traces as the aimer guide130 is adjusted from one angular extreme to the other is represented bythe oval target 150.

FIG. 2 is a semi-exploded detailed view of the distal end of the aimerarm 110, including the component parts of the guide adaptor 106. Theguide adaptor 106 generally comprises four elements: a top cap 120; arotating member, such as a thumbwheel 122; a lock tab 124; and a biasingmember, such as a spring 126. The top cap 120 is rigidly connected tothe aimer arm 110. The lock tab 124 has an aperture 128 for slidablepassage of a shaft 132 of the thumbwheel 122. The shaft 132 extendsthrough an open bore 152 in the distal end of the aimer arm 110. Thespring 126 is slidably disposed around the shaft 132 and is configuredto urge the lock tab 124 and the thumbwheel 122 toward the top cap 120.In other words, the thumbwheel 122, the lock tab 124, and the spring 126are held together by being sandwiched between the bore 152 in the aimerarm 110 and the top cap 120.

In examples, the distal end of shaft 132 is threaded to engage theinternal threads of the side portion 148 of the aimer guide 130 (FIG.1A) when the aimer guide 130 is positioned between two extending stops154 on the lock tab 124. However, it is contemplated by this disclosurethat the shaft 132 and the aimer guide 130 could also be coupled byother means, such as a quick-release toggle lock having a tapered end inthe shaft 132 which mates with a corresponding taper in the aimer guide130. Thus, by rotation of the thumbwheel 122, the guide adaptor 106pivots the aimer guide 130 relative to the aimer arm 110 along the hingeaxis 140.

In examples, the aimer guide 130 can furthermore be locked into positionat a selected angle relative to the aimer arm 110 by means of a lockingmechanism in the guide adaptor 106. A range of motion of the aimer guide130 can also be limited by certain features of the guide adaptor 106.Examples of these locking mechanisms and limiting features will now bedescribed with regard to FIGS. 3A-5B.

A first example of a locking mechanism will now be described with regardto FIGS. 3A-3C. In FIG. 3A it can be seen that the lock tab 124comprises a tapered pin 158 that is received into a mating depression160 in the aimer arm 110, shown in FIG. 3B. In FIG. 3B, it can also beseen that the bore 152 is stepped to include a shelf 162 for housing thespring 126. A number of depressions 160 exist in the aimer arm 110 forreceiving the tapered pin 158, based on the desired angular placement ofthe aimer guide 130. A cross-sectional view of the locked guide adaptor106 is shown in FIG. 3C. The lock tab 124, the spring 126 and thethumbscrew 122 are shown as trapped between the shelf 162 in the bore152 and the top cap 120. When the thumbwheel 122 is tightened, thetapered pin 158 engages the depression 160 in the arm, preventing thelock tab 124 from rotating, and thus the aimer guide 130 fromarticulating. Conversely, when the thumbwheel 122 is loosened, thespring 126 urges the lock tab 124 away from the bore 152 to release thetapered pin 158 from the depression 160, allowing limited articulationof the aimer guide 130.

An alternative example of a locking mechanisms is shown in FIG. 4. InFIG. 4, instead of a number of depressions 160 as in FIG. 3B, a numberof splines 162 exist in the aimer arm 110 for receiving correspondingspines (not shown) on the underside of the lock tab 124, based on thedesired angular placement of the aimer guide 130. The splines 162, whenengaged, allow the aimer guide 130 to lock in discrete articulationsteps. When the thumbwheel 122 is tightened, the splines 162 mesh withthe spines on the underside of the lock tab 124, preventing the lock tab124 from rotating, and thus the aimer guide 130 from articulating.Conversely, when the thumbwheel 122 is loosened, the spring 126 urgesthe lock tab 124 away from the bore 152 to release from the splines 162,allowing limited articulation of the aimer guide 130.

In addition to the locking mechanisms shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4, othersuitable locking mechanisms between the lock tab 124 and the aimer arm110 are also contemplated by this disclosure. For example, a radiallocking mechanism could be used instead of the face-locking mechanismsdescribed above. It is contemplated that a splined shaft 132 of thethumbwheel 122 could be used in such a locking mechanism.

In FIG. 4, it can also be seen that a surface of the portion of theaimer arm 110 housing the bore 152 also includes a recess 164 whichlimits the range of the articulation of the aimer guide 130. The recess164 can be applied to all examples of the guide adaptor 106 and is notlimited to the example shown in FIG. 4. Further examples of articulationlimiters are shown with regard to FIGS. 5A and 5B. In these examples,the lock tab 124 includes a tail feature 166 that serves as a stopmechanism when the elevation of the lock tab 124 relative to the shelf162 of the aimer arm 110 (FIG. 3B) causes the tail feature 166 to engagewith a pocket 168 created in the shelf 162 of the aimer arm 110. Thepocket 168 thus restricts the angular rotation of the lock tab 124. Thismechanism provides an additional means to restrict the articulation ofthe aimer guide 130 within a desired range. The tail feature 166 can beapplied to all examples of the guide adaptor 106 and is not limited tothe example shown in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 6, a method for surgical drilling using an exemplary surgicaldrill guide system 100 of this disclosure is illustrated. FIG. 6 showsthe surgical drill guide system 100 disposed at a surgical sitecomprising a femur 160 and a tibia 162. To begin the method, a surgeonor other operator deploys the aimer arm 110 of the handle 102 to asuitable location for drilling as defined by a drilling site 172. Oncedeployed, the aimer arm 110 may be locked into place relative to thehandle 102 by a knob 136 or other suitable feature on the handle 102.The surgeon then releases the locking mechanism of the guide adaptor 106by loosening the thumbwheel 122 and pivots the aimer guide 130 byrotating the thumbwheel 122. By rotating the thumbwheel 122, the surgeonthen disposes the template 134 at a placement point 170 on the femur160. Typically, the placement point 170 would be the same location asthe prior attachment point of the ligament being repaired, but othersuitable locations may be determined. The surgeon then disposes thesleeve 112 such that the sleeve 112 is slideably movable through thehandle 102. The tip 108 of the sleeve 112 is then advanced to thedrilling site 172, such as an anatomically sound location on the femur160. This allows marking and fixing, via the edge at the tip 108 of thesleeve 112, a drilling site 172 for insertion of the guide wire 118. Itis notable that the placement point 170 for the template 134 defineslocation along the insertion axis 142 for insertion of the guidewire 118towards the drilling site 172. The tip 108 of the sleeve 112 passesthrough soft tissue (not shown) and contacts the drilling site 172 atthe bone, cartilage, or other hard surface underneath the soft tissue. Adrill (not shown) may subsequently be employed to further excavate aninsertion tunnel 174 from the drilling site 172 towards the placementpoint 170 of the template 134.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreferences to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentapplication as defined by the appended claims. Such variations areintended to be covered by the scope of this present application. Assuch, the foregoing description of embodiments of the presentapplication is not intended to be limiting, the full scope rather beingconveyed by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for surgical drilling, comprising:deploying an arm of a handle of a drill guide to a pre-selectedlocation, the arm engaging with a slot in a distal portion of the handlefor arcuate movement therein; pivoting a rotating member securing anaimer guide to a distal end of the arm about a hinge axis defined by ashaft of the rotating member, the shaft extending through an opening ina locking member, the aimer guide having a template formed integrallywith a distal end of the aimer guide from the rotating member; disposingthe template at a placement point along an insertion axis defined by asleeve member, the sleeve member slidably extending through a proximalportion of the handle and configured for passage of a guide wire, thehinge axis and the insertion axis intersecting for defining theplacement point representative of a drilling site along the insertionaxis; advancing a tip of the sleeve member to the drilling site; andpassing the guide wire through the sleeve member to indicate a path fora surgical drill.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising releasinga locking mechanism, the locking mechanism locking the aimer guide at aselected angular position relative to the arm.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pin on the locking member forselective engagement with a plurality of depressions formed in the arm.4. The method of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises aplurality of spines on the locking member for selective engagement witha plurality of splines formed in the arm.
 5. The method of claim 1,further comprising locking the arm into place relative to the handlewith a knob on the handle.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein a surfaceof the sleeve member comprises teeth for selective ratcheting engagementwith an interior portion of the handle when the sleeve member rotated.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the tip of the sleeve member comprisesan engaging edge for fixing the sleeve member against bone.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein a surface of the arm comprises at least onemarking for measuring arcuate extension of the arm relative to thehandle.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein a bore of the arm defines ashelf for housing a biasing member.
 10. The method of claim 9, whereinthe biasing member is a spring disposed around the shaft of the rotatingmember.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein a surface of the arm housingthe bore comprises a recess for limiting a range of articulation of theaimer guide.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the range ofarticulation is about 25 degrees.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein therotating member is a thumbwheel.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein theaimer guide further comprises a cap member fixedly attached to the arm,and a biasing member biasing a locking member and the rotating membertowards the cap member.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the aimerguide further comprises an internally threaded portion for coupling tothe shaft of the rotating member.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein thedrilling site is a location on a femur.